EU-Ukraine partnership treaty not to infringe on Russia's interests, says EU Council president

The European Union has again said that the Association Agreement with Ukraine is not intended to put Russia at a disadvantage, but will only benefit the latter.

"Geography and history will always mean [Ukraine has] a special relationship with Russia, of course we acknowledge that. We have made it abundantly clear that the European Union's agreements with partner countries in the region are not at Russia's expense. On the contrary, it is also set to benefit from it," European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said at a press conference in Brussels on Friday following the European Council.

"At the end of the day, this is not about relations with either Brussels or Moscow. It is about the Ukrainians finding agreement among themselves, charting together a course for their own country," he said.